A century in each innings (111 and 128) in the Ranji Trophy final
against Karnataka at Bangalore in 1978-79 brought Surinder Khanna into
the limelight. That season, he scored 657 runs (73.00) to star in
Delhi's maiden triumph in the national competition. A capable
wicketkeeper and a dashing middle order batsman, Khanna was a tower of
strength to Delhi for many years and played a leading role in their
successes in the late 70s and early 80s. When the selectors decided to
drop Syed Kirmani for the tour of England in 1979, Khanna was given
the big break. He played without much success in all the three World
Cup games and the Test place went to the other debutant Bharath Reddy.
He did not enjoy a very good record in the first class games, scoring
but 41 runs in six games (four innings).

With Kirmani and Reddy firmly entrenched as the two leading
wicketkeepers in the country, Khanna's career seemed over. But he
continued to do well around the domestic circuit and with his
swashbuckling style suited to the one day game, his career received a
fresh lease of life when he was included in the Indian team for the
Rothmans Asia Cup at Sharjah in April 1984. He turned the trip into a
personal triumph. He got half centuries in low scoring games against
Sri Lanka and Pakistan. India won the trophy and Khanna emerged as the
unexpected star by taking the man of the series award. He was a member
of the Indian team that went to Pakistan in October the same year. He
continued to play for Delhi with considerable success and by the time
he retired, he had made 4330 runs (48.65) in the Ranji Trophy with a
highest score of 220 not out against Himachal Pradesh in 1987-88.
(Partab Ramchand)

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